Bed pan rinser

ABSTRACT

The present device comprises an apparatus for rinsing bedpans which may be connected to conventional plumbing. The apparatus includes a novel water diverter member operable to divert some of the water flowing in the plumbing to a spray arm upon movement of the spray arm from a first off position to a second on position in which the spray arm is positioned to rinse the bedpan.

United States Patent 1111 3,629,872

[72] inventor Richard G. Parkison [56] References Cited Louisville, Ky.UNITED STATES PATENTS S i 2,956,285 10/1960 Jewell 4/7 18 u y 72,703,408 3/1955 Gra 4 7 I451 Dec-2811971 3,206,769 9/1965 Gidzer 4:7173] Ass'gnee g j a ga 3,106,722 10/1963 Logan etal... 4/145 cw2,682,059 6/1954 Grossmann... 4 225 Continuation-impart oi applicationSer.No. 3,060,456 10/1962 Jacobs ($225 884,780,9ec- 24, 1969,!10W"bummed, 3,353,299 12/1967 Maude 4/225 which is a continuation ofapplication Ser. 3,1 18,462 H1964 Pannum 4/224 X 3,482,269 12/1969Tietema 4/225 abandoned. This application July 6, 1970, Ser. No. 52,401Primary Exammer- Henry K. Artls AttorneysSheldon H. Parker, Tennes l.Erstad and Robert G. Crooks [541 BED PAN RINSER 19 Claims, 9 DrawingFigs.

ABSTRACT: The present dev1ce comprises an apparatus for [52] U.S.Cl 4/1,rinsing bedpans which may be connected to conventional 4/14/10 plumbing.The apparatus includes a novel water diverter [51] Ilii. Cl memberoperable to divert some of the water flowing in the [50] Field of Search4/7,6, 150, plumbing m a Spray arm upon movement of the spray arm19212241225126; 137/616 616-5; 8 6 from a first off position to a secondon position in which the spray arm is positioned to rinse the bedpan.

PATENTEU [E028 l9?! SHEET 1 BF 6 u HZ INVENTOR. Richard G. Parkison ygmm ATTORNEY PATENTEB M1228 m SHEET 2 OF 6 PATENTH] H28 H71.

SHEET 0F 6 PATENTEBuaczam' 5 3 sum 5 OF 6 FIG.8

mum mam SHEET 8 [IF 6 BED PAN RINSER This application is acontinuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 884,780 filed Dec. 24,1969, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 685,477 filed Nov.24, 1967, both now abandoned.

The present invention relates to apparatus for rinsing bedpans and moreparticularly to an apparatus adapted for connection to conventionalplumbing fixtures to divert upon demand at least a portion of the waterflowing in the plumbing to the apparatus for rinsing the bedpan.

In accordance with the present invention the bedpan rinser has a noveldiverter member which is mounted in conventional plumbing. The divertermember has a housing which is provided with one or more passages for theunobstructed flow of water in the plumbing and at least one normallyclosed passageway which when opened is adapted to divert at least aportion of the water flowing in the plumbing to an actuating meanspositioned above the bedpan.

The actuating means includes a spray assembly which is moveably mountedon the diverter housing and the spray assembly has operating meansassociated therewith to open the normally closed passageway to waterflowupon movement of a spray arm associated with the spray assembly from avertical to a horizontal position. The operating means includes acontrol valve for regulating the diversion of water from the plumbing tothe spray assembly. For best results, the control valve is operable toboth open and close the spray assembly to water flow only during thelast few degrees of spray arm travel to and from the horizontal positionso that splashing of operating personnel and undue leakage of water fromthe spray assembly is averted.

In many applications, it is highly desirable to provide means forsanitizing the bedpan. In accordance with another aspect of the instantinvention, this is provided by a deoseptic assembly connected to thediverter member. The deoseptic assembly is adapted to provide acontrolled release of a sanitizing agent into the bedpan when waterflows in the spray assembly. The mixing of the sanitizing agent with thewater in the spray assembly assures good coverage of the entire interiorof the bedpan by the sanitizing solution.

Referring now to the drawings in which various preferred embodiments ofthe invention are shown and in which like numerals refer to like parts:

FIG. 1 is a front plan view of the apparatus of the instant inventionshown connected to a flush-type toilet.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of FIG. 1 shown with the spray arm inits operating position.

FIG. 3 is a sectional side view of one embodiment of the novel divertermember of the instant invention taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a rear view in section of the diverter valve of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a sectional side view of another embodiment of the divertermember of the instant instant invention.

FIG. 6 is a rear sectional view of the diverter member of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a sectional side view of a deoseptic assembly shown connectedto the diverter member of the instant inventron.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the deoseptic assembly of FIG. 7 taken alongline 8-8 and showing in detail the preferred mode of connecting thedeoseptic assembly tothe spray arm of the diverter member.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the deosepticassembly showing the cap indetail.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is seen a conventional flushtype toilet10 which has a conventional flush valve 12 and plumbing 14 connectingthe flush valve to the bowl 16. Mounted in plumbing 14 is a noveldiverter member 18 which has a spray arm 20 moveably mounted thereto bymeans of a rotatable shaft 22. The plumbing 14 is preferably mounted 0E-the spray arm in this manner desirably permits the bedpan to be placedon the bowl 16 during the rinse cycle rather than requiring the operatorto support the bedpan in one hand and manipulate the spray arm with theother hand.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, the diverter member 18 is provided witha housing 24 and inlet and outlet openings 26 and 28 respectively whichare connected to the plumbing l4. Directly interconnecting the inlet andoutlet openings is a passage 30 which is adapted to permit the free flowof water through the plumbing 14 (FIG. 1) to the bowl 16 when the bedpanrinsing function of the diverter member 18 is not being utilized.

Housing 24 is provided with a valve housing 32 having a normally closedpassage 34 therein. Passage 34 is adapted to communicate with passage 30to divert water from the passage 30 to the spray arm 20 when fluidcommunication is established between the passages 30 and 34. The sprayarm 20 is provided with a bore 36 which is in fluid communication withpassage 34 through intermediate bores 40, 42 in the cap member 43 whichcap member is a continuation of the shaft 22. Bore 36 in the spray arm20 also communicates with a spray head 44 which directs any waterflowing in the bore 36 into the bedpan to be rinsed. The flow of waterto the spray head 44 is regulated by a conventional metering screw 45mounted in cap member 43. By simply moving the metering screw toward oraway from bore 38, the flow of water to the spray arm 20 may bedecreased or increased respectively.

To prevent loosening of the spray arm during use, shaft 22 is mounted toa screw cap 46 which is adapted to retain the shaft 22 in the divertermember housing. Mounted between the screw cap 46 and the housing 24 is aspring 48 which keeps cap member 43 tight against the diverter memberhousing 24 to prevent leakage of water from the intermediate bores 40and 42. To prevent leakage of water from passage 34 into the cap member46, packing 50 is mounted between the shaft 22 and the housing 24.

Rotatable shaft 22 has a leaf spring 56 fixedly mounted thereon by screwmeans 58. Leaf spring 56 is adapted to rotate with the shaft 22 toengage a control or poppet valve 59 which valve regulates the flow ofwater between the passages 34 and 30. Poppet valve 59 is comprised of avalve body 60 mounted in diverter housing 24. Valve body 60 has areduced diameter portion 62 which has a bore 64 therein which borereceives an operating plunger 66. Although valve body 60 is shown ashaving threads 68 for mounting the valve body to the diverter valvehousing 24, any conventional means which will provide an essentiallyleakproof fitting may be used instead.

Mounted by conventional means in valve housing 32 is a valve seat 70.Valve seat 70 has a bore 72 therein coaxial with bore 64 for receivingand guiding the bottom portion of operating plunger 66. Mounted onoperating seat 70 is a washer seal 74 adapted to plunger 66 to closepassage 34 to prevent water from flowing into passage 34 from passage30.

Fixedly mounted on operating plunger 66 and positioned between seat 70and the reduced diameter portion 62 of valve body 60 is a flange 76which helps retain the plunger in the bore 64. Flange 76 also provides amounting for compression spring 78, the other end of which is anchoredto the valve -body 60. Spring 78 is adapted to apply sealing pressure tothe position corresponds to the OFF position and FIG. 3 shows the centerwith respect to bowl 16 as shown in permit centering of position of theinternal parts of the diverter when the spray am 20 is in its OFFposition. A flush cycle initiated at this point will supply waterthrough the plumbing l4 and passage 30 to flush the toilet just as ifthe diverter was not in place in the plumbing.

Upon movement of the spray arm 20 towards between horizontal positionshown in'FIG. 2, shaft 22 turns clockwise as viewed in FIG. 3. Leafspring 56 is also rotated clockwise until it reaches a nearlyverticalposition (as viewed in FIG. 3)

at which time it contacts plunger 66 of control valve 59. Furtherclockwise rotation of the spray arm causes the spring 56 to urge plunger66 to the right as seen in FIG. 3 to unseat washer seal 74. When washerseal 74 unseats, some water is diverted from passage 30 to passage 34and to the spray arm through bores 40, 42, 38 and 36 and into the bedpan(FIG. 2). As the diverter member will divert water flowing in theplumbing only when the spray arm is near horizontal, it can be seen thatno splashing will occur since the spray arm will be close to the bedpanwhen water starts to flow.

The toilet flush cycle may be initiated at any time either before orafter the spray arm is moved from the vertical position and it isapparent from the foregoing that water diversion to the spray arm willnot occur until the spray arm is moved close enough to the horizontal tooperate plunger 66. In addition, valve 59 when open will only divert aportion of the water flowing to the bowl 16 through the plumbing 14.This desirable feature permits the bedpan to be rinsed into the toiletbowl while conjointly supplying water to the toilet bowl to flush it tohelp maintain a clean and sanitary bowl.

After rinsing is complete, the spray arm 20 is moved back to thevertical position to close poppet valve 59. Since closure of poppetvalve 59 occurs within the first few degrees of movement of the sprayarm to the vertical, water flowing to the spray arm will be quickly shutoff to prevent splashing.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the spray arm 20 has a head or spout unit 44mounted thereon by conventional means such as by the cooperating threadsdepicted at 79. Spout 44 is provided with an inlet 80 in communicationwith the interior bore 36 of the spray arm and with flow passage 82 inthe spout. Flow passage 82 is in communication with a spray director 84.Spray director 84 has a plurality of holes 86 therein to provide a full,evenly distributed divergent cone pattern spray of water into thebedpan. The spray director 84 is secured to a handgrip 88 which alsoacts as a retainer for a resilient neck 90. The resilient neck 90 may bemade of rubber, plastic or other resilient material and is mounted tospout 44 by a retainer ring 92 which is secured to the spout 44. A space94 is left between handgrip 88 and retainer ring 92 so that operatingpersonnel may swivel the spray director 84 to more fully rinse theentire interior of the bedpan. Although desirable, it is not necessaryto provide for a swivel motion of the spray director 84 and the spraydirector may be secured directly to the spout 44.

FIGS. and 6 depict another embodiment of the diverter valve in which alloperating parts are the same as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 except for themeans for operating the poppet valve 59 and for a slight change in theconstruction of the plunger 66. In this embodiment, leaf spring 56 isreplaced by an actuating lug 96 formed integrally with a cylindricalcollar 98 secured by conventional means (not shown) to shaft 22 or asshown is integrally formed with the shaft 22. Spaced from actuating lug96 and also integral with collar 98 is a lug 100 adapted to engage astop 102 on valve housing 32 to limit the rotation of the spray arm andprevent damage to the poppet valve assembly. The stop and lugs also fixthe extreme vertical and horizontal positions of the spray arm.

In this embodiment, the plunger 66 is provided with an increaseddiameter portion 103 larger than the bore 105 in the washer seal 74,thereby permitting the washer seal 74 to be tightly mounted on operatingplunger 66 since the increased diameter portion 103 will'raise the seal74 to-open the valve 59 to waterflow when the lug 96 contacts and raisesthe operating plunger 66.

The outlet 28 of valve housing 24 in this embodiment is made smallerthan the inlet opening 26 to restrict the flow through the divertermember. By so restricting flow, aback pressure is created-in passage 30which provides for greater flow of water to.the spray arm upon actuationof the poppet valve 59. Although not necessary to assure operation inany of the embodiments described herein, the faster and greater flowprovided by the restricted outlet passage may be used to advantage inall of the embodiments described in thisspecification.

Referring now to FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 there is shown a deoseptic assemblyfor feeding a sanitizing solution to the diverter member for mixing withthe water used to rinse the bedpan. The deoseptic assembly comprises aconventional container or bottle 112 which contains the sanitizingsolution (not shown). The container 112 is closed by a cap 114 which capcontrols the flow of sanitizing agent to the diverter valve.

Extending into the container 112 is a tube 116 which is mounted on aneck 118. The neck 1 18 is the lower portion of an adapter 122 whichadapter is connected by cooperating screw thread means 124 to aninwardly extending cylindrical flange 126 which flange is integral withcap 114. Neck 1 18 has a bore therein which bore opens into a largerbore 127 which is partially closed by a valve plate 128. Valve plate 128is mounted and clamped in place in the cap 114 between adapter 122 and ashoulder 132 formed on flange 126.

Mounted on valve plate 128 is a check valve 134 which has a centeringstem 136 extending through an opening 137 in valve plate 128. The checkvalve 134 permits the sanitizing agent to flow out of the bottle throughopenings 137A in the valve plate 128 when the pressure in the bore 138located above the check valve decreases sufficiently. Check valve 134also prevents water from flowing back into the container 112.

In fluid communication with bore 138 through a passage 140 is a bore142. Mounted in bore 142 is a metering screw 144 adapted for movement inthe bore 142 to control the amount of sanitizing agent permitted to flowout of the container 1 12. A hose 146, preferably of flexible rubber orother resilient material, is connected by conventional means to a hollownipple 148, which nipple is in fluid communication with the bore 138.The other end of the hose 146 is connected to the diverter member 18which in order to accommodate the hose is modified by removing themetering screw 45 which in this embodiment is replaced by an extendedmetering screw 153. As best shown in FIG. 8, the cap member 43 ismodified to accept the nipple 152 which is in fluid communication withthe cap member to provide the necessary flow path from the hose 146 tothe diverter member 18.

The metering screw 153 has a reduced diameter portion 154, which, withthe cap member 43 and the shaft 22 (not here shown), defines an annularchamber 155 into which the sanitizing solution flowing in the hose 146is deposited. Positioned in the reduced diameter portion 154 is a bore156 which extends from the reduced diameter portion 154 through meteringscrew extension 157 to fluidly connect the annular chamber 155 with theinterior bore 36 of the spray arm 20. 0- rings 158 are mounted on eitherside of the reduced diameter portion 154 to prevent both leakage of thesanitizing solution out of the diverter member 18 along the meteringscrew 153 and flow of sanitizing solution to the interior of spray arm20 other than through bore 156.

Metering screw extension 157 extends into the throat section 159 of aventuri 160 which venturi is mounted in bore 36 of spray arm 20. In theposition of the extension 157 shown in FIG. 8, a space 161 is formedbetween the extension 157 and the venturi 160 to permit water admittedto arm 20 from bore 162 of the diverter member to flow into bore 36. Theflow of water through space 161 creates a partial vacuum at the mouth ofextension 157 which partial vacuum is enhanced by the expansion of thewater to a lower pressure as the water exits from the venturi. Thispartial vacuum at the mouth of the extension sucks the sanitizingsolution in annular chamber 155 through bore 156 into the venturi whereit is admixed with the water flowing therein. It can be appreciated thatthe degree of vacuum created and the mass flow of water through theventuri controls the amount of sanitizing solution which will be admixedwith a unit of water. To help control the partial vacuum created at themouth of the extension, the metering screw 153 is' mounted in cap member43 by cooperating screw thread means shown at 164 so that twisting themetering screw 153 will advance or retard the extension 157 to controlthe size of the space 161 which, depending on the direction of twist,will in the venturi.

When the spray arm is moved back to its vertical OFF position to shutoff waterflow to the venturi 160, atmospheric pressure is quicklyreestablished throughout the diverter member 18 and deoseptic assemblyto prevent the further flow of sanitizing solution from the deosepticassembly to the annular chamber 155. Any water remaining in the sprayarm 20 may possibly translate through the extension 157 back to thedeoseptic cap 114. Any such backflow will create a closing pressure oncheck valve 134 to seat the check valve on the valve plate 128 toprevent entry of water into the container 112, thereby preserving theundiluted nature of the sanitizing solution.

in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7-9, the deoseptic assembly is mountedat an even height with respect to the spray arm so that there is nogravity flow of sanitizing agent to the spray arm. However, thedeoseptic assembly can be mounted higher than the spray arm to providefor gravity flow if desired. If this is done, a spring (not shown) willbe mounted in association with the check valve in conventional manner tocounterbalance the gravity forces acting on the check valve to presentboth flow of sanitizing solution to the spray arm and water back to thecontainer when the spray arm is moved to its vertical OFF position.

Although the venturi shown in the drawings is desirable for theadditional pressure drop it generates, it can be dispensed with and astraight section used instead. If this is done, the metering function ofthe venturi 160 and extension 157 will be lost. Obviously, the venturi160 may be used if desired in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-6 to providefaster and lower pressure flow in the spray arm if this is desired.

It is intended to cover all changes and modifications of the preferredembodiments of the invention which do not constitute departures from thespirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. in a bedpan-rinsing apparatus comprising a housing having an inletand an outlet, said inlet and outlet being connected to a pipe which isadapted to supply water to a plumbing fixture, first passage means insaid housing connecting said inlet to said outlet to permit the normalflow of water through said housing to said plumbing fixture, secondpassage means in said housing adapted to provide fluid communicationwith said first passage means, valve means mounted between said firstand second passage means for maintaining said second passage meansnormally closed to waterflow and for diverting at least a portion of thewater flowing in said first passage means upon actuation thereof,actuating means moveably mounted on said housing, said actuating meansbeing moveable from a first position in which said valve means maintainssaid second passage closed to waterflow and a second position in whichsaid actuating means opens said valve means to permit water to flow intosaid second passage means, said actuating means including a thirdpassage means in fluid communication with said second passage means fordirecting the water flowing in said second passage means into the bedpanthe improvement wherein the valve means is a poppet valve closable bywater inlet pressure.

2. The apparatus as specified in claim 1 wherein said moveable actuatingmeans comprises a spray arm, a shaft and valveactuating means, saidspray arm being mounted on said shaft which shaft extends into saidhousing, said valve-actuating means also being mounted on said shaft andmoveable therewith to actuate said valve means in response to movementof the spray arm.

3. The apparatus as specified in claim 1 wherein said valve meanscomprises seat means mounted between said first and second passages,plunger means associated with said seat means adapted to be contacted bysaid actuating means to open said seat to permit waterflow through saidfirst and second passages.

4. The apparatus as specified in claim 3 wherein said valveactuatingmeans comprises a leaf spring mounted on said shaft and adapted torotate therewith to lift said plunger to open said valve means.

5. The apparatus as specified in claim 2 further comprising stop meansmounted on said housing to limit the motion of said spray assembly.

6. The apparatus as specified in claim 1 wherein said actuating means isoperable to open said valve means only when said actuating means iswithin a few degrees of its on position and to permit the valve means toclose only when the actuating means is moved a few degrees away from theon position toward the off position.

7. The apparatus as specified in claim 2 wherein said actuating means isan integrally cast lug on said shaft means.

8. The apparatus as specified in claim 7 further comprising stop meanswithin said housing adapted to engage said lug means to limit motion ofthe actuating means.

9. The apparatus as specified in claim 1 wherein said outlet is smallerthan said inlet to create a back pressure in said first passage means.

10. The apparatus as specified in claim 1 further comprising deosepticassembly means for supplying a sanitizing agent to the actuating meansfor mixing with the water flowing in said actuating means to sanitizethe bedpan.

11. The apparatus as specified in claim 10 wherein said deosepticassembly comprises a container for holding said sanitizing agent, saidcontainer having a cap thereon for closing said container, said caphaving connection means associated therewith for communication with saidthird passage means and said sanitizing agent for supplying thesanitizing agent to said third passage passage means.

12. The apparatus specified in claim 11 wherein said connection meansincludes a bore in said cap, first hose means for communicating saidbore with said sanitizing agent and second hose means for communicatingsaid bore with said third passage means.

13. The apparatus specified in claim 12 further including check valvemeans mounted in association with said bore to prevent backflow of waterinto said sanitizing agent.

14. The apparatus as specified in claim 10 wherein said actuating meansincludes a venturi for restricting the flow of water to said thirdpassage, hollow extension means coaxially located in said venturi, saidextension means being in fluid communication with said sanitizing agentand adapted to release the sanitizing agent into the third passage, aspace between said extension means and said venturi through which waterfrom the second passage flow to the third passage, said water creating apartial vacuum at the mouth of said extension to draw the sanitizingagent into the third passage.

15. The apparatus as specified in claim 14 wherein said extension meansis moveable in said passage to vary the said space to control the flowof water in said third passage means.

16. The apparatus as specified in claim 12 wherein said bore furtherincludes a metering screw for controlling the flow of sanitizing agentfrom said container to said third passage.

17. In an apparatus for rinsing bedpans which comprises in combinationwith a toilet bowl and plumbing for flushing the same, a diverter memberinterposed in and positioned between the plumbing and the toilet bowl,said diverter member having a housing with passageways leadingtherethrough which housing includes an inlet and an outlet to which saidplumbing is connected; a spray arm pivotally mounted at one end withinsaid housing and having a passageway extending therethrough incommunication with said passageway in said housing, the opposing end ofsaid spray arm having a spout secured thereto, said spray arm having afirst normal position and a second operating position; actuating meansin association with said end of said spray arm in said housing andadapted to pivot therewith; valve means interposed between thepassageways of said spray am and said housing proximate said actuatingmeans and adapted to cooperate with said actuating means such that whensaid spray arm is in said second position the valve means opens therebyestablishing communication between the plumbing and said spray armwhereby a portion of the water is diverted to the spout when the toiletis flushed the improvement wherein the valve means is a poppetvalveclosable by inlet water pressure.

18. An apparatus for rinsing bedpans which comprises in combination witha toilet bowl and plumbing for flushing the same, a diverter memberinterposed in and positioned between the plumbing and the toilet bowl,said diverter member having a housing with passageways leadingtherethrough including an inlet and an outlet to which said plumbing isconnected; a spray arm having a passageway extending therethrough incommunication with said passageway in said housing, the opposing end ofsaid spray arm having a spout secured thereto, said spray arm beingmounted on a shaft which shaft is moveably mounted in said housing, saidspray arm having a first normal position and a second operatingposition; said housing having a valve housing extending transversely ofsaid diverter valve for axially receiving said shaft; a lead springpivotally mounted to said end of said shaft and axially disposed in saidvalve housing, a poppet valve secured to the wall of said housing andinterposed between the passageways of said spray arm and said housingproximate said leaf spring, said poppet valve being adapted to cooperatewith said leaf spring such that when said spray arm is in said secondposition the poppet valve opens thereby establishing communicationbetween the plumbing and said spray arm whereby a portion of the wateris diverted to the spout when the toilet is flushed.

19. An apparatus for rinsing bedpans which comprises in combination witha toilet bowl, and plumbing for flushing the same, a diverter memberinterposed in and positioned between the plumbing and the toilet bowl,said diverter member having a housing with passageways leadingtherethrough which housing includes an inlet and an outlet to which saidplumbing is connected; a spray arm having a passageway extendingtherethrough in communication with said passageway in said housing, theopposing end of said spray arm having a spout secured thereto, saidspray arm being mounted on a shaft which shaft is moveably mounted tosaid housing, said spray arm having a first normal position and a secondoperating position; said housing having a valve housing extendingtransversely of said diverter valve for axially receiving said shaft, apair of spaced lugs integral with an end of said shaft and a stopintegral with said valve housing for cooperating with each of said lugsfor limiting the motion of the spray arm, a poppet valve secured to thewall of said valve housing and interposed between the passageways ofsaid spray arm and said valve housing proximate one of said lugs, saidpoppet valve being adapted to cooperate with one of said lugs such thatwhen said spray arm is in said second position the poppet valve opensthereby establishing communication between the plumbing and said sprayarm whereby a portion of the water is diverted to the spout when thetoilet is flushed.

* It i

1. In a bedpan-rinsing appaRatus comprising a housing having an inletand an outlet, said inlet and outlet being connected to a pipe which isadapted to supply water to a plumbing fixture, first passage means insaid housing connecting said inlet to said outlet to permit the normalflow of water through said housing to said plumbing fixture, secondpassage means in said housing adapted to provide fluid communicationwith said first passage means, valve means mounted between said firstand second passage means for maintaining said second passage meansnormally closed to waterflow and for diverting at least a portion of thewater flowing in said first passage means upon actuation thereof,actuating means moveably mounted on said housing, said actuating meansbeing moveable from a first position in which said valve means maintainssaid second passage closed to waterflow and a second position in whichsaid actuating means opens said valve means to permit water to flow intosaid second passage means, said actuating means including a thirdpassage means in fluid communication with said second passage means fordirecting the water flowing in said second passage means into the bedpanthe improvement wherein the valve means is a poppet valve closable bywater inlet pressure.
 2. The apparatus as specified in claim 1 whereinsaid moveable actuating means comprises a spray arm, a shaft andvalve-actuating means, said spray arm being mounted on said shaft whichshaft extends into said housing, said valve-actuating means also beingmounted on said shaft and moveable therewith to actuate said valve meansin response to movement of the spray arm.
 3. The apparatus as specifiedin claim 1 wherein said valve means comprises seat means mounted betweensaid first and second passages, plunger means associated with said seatmeans adapted to be contacted by said actuating means to open said seatto permit waterflow through said first and second passages.
 4. Theapparatus as specified in claim 3 wherein said valve-actuating meanscomprises a leaf spring mounted on said shaft and adapted to rotatetherewith to lift said plunger to open said valve means.
 5. Theapparatus as specified in claim 2 further comprising stop means mountedon said housing to limit the motion of said spray assembly.
 6. Theapparatus as specified in claim 1 wherein said actuating means isoperable to open said valve means only when said actuating means iswithin a few degrees of its on position and to permit the valve means toclose only when the actuating means is moved a few degrees away from theon position toward the off position.
 7. The apparatus as specified inclaim 2 wherein said actuating means is an integrally cast lug on saidshaft means.
 8. The apparatus as specified in claim 7 further comprisingstop means within said housing adapted to engage said lug means to limitmotion of the actuating means.
 9. The apparatus as specified in claim 1wherein said outlet is smaller than said inlet to create a back pressurein said first passage means.
 10. The apparatus as specified in claim 1further comprising deoseptic assembly means for supplying a sanitizingagent to the actuating means for mixing with the water flowing in saidactuating means to sanitize the bedpan.
 11. The apparatus as specifiedin claim 10 wherein said deoseptic assembly comprises a container forholding said sanitizing agent, said container having a cap thereon forclosing said container, said cap having connection means associatedtherewith for communication with said third passage means and saidsanitizing agent for supplying the sanitizing agent to said thirdpassage passage means.
 12. The apparatus specified in claim 11 whereinsaid connection means includes a bore in said cap, first hose means forcommunicating said bore with said sanitizing agent and second hose meansfor communicating said bore with said third passage means.
 13. Theapparatus specified in claim 12 further including check valve meansmounted in association with said bore to prevEnt backflow of water intosaid sanitizing agent.
 14. The apparatus as specified in claim 10wherein said actuating means includes a venturi for restricting the flowof water to said third passage, hollow extension means coaxially locatedin said venturi, said extension means being in fluid communication withsaid sanitizing agent and adapted to release the sanitizing agent intothe third passage, a space between said extension means and said venturithrough which water from the second passage flow to the third passage,said water creating a partial vacuum at the mouth of said extension todraw the sanitizing agent into the third passage.
 15. The apparatus asspecified in claim 14 wherein said extension means is moveable in saidpassage to vary the said space to control the flow of water in saidthird passage means.
 16. The apparatus as specified in claim 12 whereinsaid bore further includes a metering screw for controlling the flow ofsanitizing agent from said container to said third passage.
 17. In anapparatus for rinsing bedpans which comprises in combination with atoilet bowl and plumbing for flushing the same, a diverter memberinterposed in and positioned between the plumbing and the toilet bowl,said diverter member having a housing with passageways leadingtherethrough which housing includes an inlet and an outlet to which saidplumbing is connected; a spray arm pivotally mounted at one end withinsaid housing and having a passageway extending therethrough incommunication with said passageway in said housing, the opposing end ofsaid spray arm having a spout secured thereto, said spray arm having afirst normal position and a second operating position; actuating meansin association with said end of said spray arm in said housing andadapted to pivot therewith; valve means interposed between thepassageways of said spray arm and said housing proximate said actuatingmeans and adapted to cooperate with said actuating means such that whensaid spray arm is in said second position the valve means opens therebyestablishing communication between the plumbing and said spray armwhereby a portion of the water is diverted to the spout when the toiletis flushed the improvement wherein the valve means is a poppet valveclosable by inlet water pressure.
 18. An apparatus for rinsing bedpanswhich comprises in combination with a toilet bowl and plumbing forflushing the same, a diverter member interposed in and positionedbetween the plumbing and the toilet bowl, said diverter member having ahousing with passageways leading therethrough including an inlet and anoutlet to which said plumbing is connected; a spray arm having apassageway extending therethrough in communication with said passagewayin said housing, the opposing end of said spray arm having a spoutsecured thereto, said spray arm being mounted on a shaft which shaft ismoveably mounted in said housing, said spray arm having a first normalposition and a second operating position; said housing having a valvehousing extending transversely of said diverter valve for axiallyreceiving said shaft; a lead spring pivotally mounted to said end ofsaid shaft and axially disposed in said valve housing, a poppet valvesecured to the wall of said housing and interposed between thepassageways of said spray arm and said housing proximate said leafspring, said poppet valve being adapted to cooperate with said leafspring such that when said spray arm is in said second position thepoppet valve opens thereby establishing communication between theplumbing and said spray arm whereby a portion of the water is divertedto the spout when the toilet is flushed.
 19. An apparatus for rinsingbedpans which comprises in combination with a toilet bowl, and plumbingfor flushing the same, a diverter member interposed in and positionedbetween the plumbing and the toilet bowl, said diverter member having ahousing with passageways leading therethrough which housing includes aninlet and an outlet to which said plumBing is connected; a spray armhaving a passageway extending therethrough in communication with saidpassageway in said housing, the opposing end of said spray arm having aspout secured thereto, said spray arm being mounted on a shaft whichshaft is moveably mounted to said housing, said spray arm having a firstnormal position and a second operating position; said housing having avalve housing extending transversely of said diverter valve for axiallyreceiving said shaft, a pair of spaced lugs integral with an end of saidshaft and a stop integral with said valve housing for cooperating witheach of said lugs for limiting the motion of the spray arm, a poppetvalve secured to the wall of said valve housing and interposed betweenthe passageways of said spray arm and said valve housing proximate oneof said lugs, said poppet valve being adapted to cooperate with one ofsaid lugs such that when said spray arm is in said second position thepoppet valve opens thereby establishing communication between theplumbing and said spray arm whereby a portion of the water is divertedto the spout when the toilet is flushed.